You are here

Why Choose UNE?

Academic Excellence

UNE's compelling location is matched by its academic rigor. We offer more than 40 undergraduate programs, ranging from Applied Exercise Science to Environmental Studies, Medical Biology, Marine Sciences, Nursing, History and Political Science.

As a student with us, you enjoy small classes and opportunities to work closely with faculty conducting research in our state-of-the-art facilities. You receive not only an expert’s knowledge of your discipline but a thorough grounding in the liberal arts. Through classes in the humanities, campus events that expose you to the leading thinkers in a variety of fields, and the relationships you form with students preparing for all sorts of different careers, you become a well-rounded thinker.

At UNE, you’re also part of the larger University community that includes students pursuing degrees in our master's, doctoral and professional programs. In our research labs, clinical simulation labs, and service learning programs, you often find yourself working beside graduate and professional students, pursuing a shared passion.

by the Numbers

4

70+

92%

Number of 2015 graduates* employed or accepted into graduate/ professional programs

* 80% of graduates responded to survey

Location

The southern Maine coast has a long history as a popular vacation destination. It is a beautiful, stimulating part of the country, where people are welcoming.

On our Biddeford Campus, you find 4,000 feet of ocean frontage. Whether you enjoy surfing, swimming, sunbathing or jogging along the shore, the ocean is never more than a short walk away.

On our Portland Campus, you find opportunities to explore a historic seaside city known for its bustling arts and entertainment offerings, scenic biking and walking trails, and stunning waterfront views, all while being a mere two-hour drive from Boston.

by the Numbers

4,000

#14

591

Acres of campus in Southern Maine

Return on Investment

The University of New England has been included in the 2018 edition of The Princeton Review’s Best 382 Colleges guide. This highly selective list includes only the top 15% of four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. UNE was selected based on its high-quality academic offerings, optimal locations in Maine and Morocco, competitive cost and size.

Forbes magazine placed UNE in the top 650 American degree-granting institutions that provide the highest investment return—high honors considering there are approximately 4,500 colleges and universities in the nation. Forbes compiled the list based on the output and return on investment (ROI) each institution offers.

Forbes’ acknowledgment of the value of a UNE degree follows similar recognition by PayScale, which ranked UNE #1 in 2014 student ROI among public and private colleges and universities in Maine and in the top 15% nationally.

In addition, UNE was named as one of the Best Colleges for Your Money by MONEY magazine. MONEY lists rank schools not on how difficult they are to get into but, rather, on the value of graduating from them. MONEY determined its rankings by giving equal weight to quality of education (including factors like graduation rates and instructor quality), affordability (by examining student debt and loan default rates), and outcomes (which takes into account graduates’ incomes).

by the Numbers

#1

UNE 2014 ranking in 20-year student return on investment (ROI) among public and private colleges and universities in Maine according to PayScale. Nationally, UNE ranked in the top 15%

90%

Number of 2014 graduates* employed or accepted into graduate/ professional programs

#2

In the nation for alumni reporting high "Job Meaning," according to PayScale

* 85% of graduates responded to survey

Everybody Knows Your Name

UNE is my home away from home. It has such a family feel where everyone knows your name. There's always a helping hand or a friendly face.

- Tara Connell, Psychology Major

At UNE you're more than just a number. You're an individual with the opportunity to play your own special role in the life of the University.

Within small classes, led by committed faculty who care about your development both inside the classroom and out, you receive the guidance and encouragement you need to thrive.

Your professors engage you in research projects, help you attain coveted internship positions, and provide invaluable mentoring as you prepare to make the next step, into graduate school or employment in your field.

by the Numbers

10K

The approximate number of hours that UNE students contributed in community service to more than 150 agencies in 2013

41%

Percentage of UNE seniors that have worked with faculty on research projects, compared to 23% at all colleges surveyed by the NSSE

13:1

Student to Faculty ratio

So Much to Do

At UNE, you find more than 90 student clubs, ranging from the Nor’easter News, our student newspaper, to UNE Players, a student theater company. You interact with your peers and professors in the ways that matter most to you.

Meanwhile, you participate in the excitement and zaniness of intercollegiate athletics. When the Nor’easters are vying for a conference championship — and our teams have notched 11 in just the past five years — the entire campus is abuzz.

Whether lining the sidelines of our big blue turf field to cheer on the field hockey or lacrosse teams, packing the ice arena to root for one of the Nor’easter hockey teams, or making some noise for our women's basketball team, which cracked the USA Today Division III Top 25 Poll in 2014, you’re playing your part to support our culture of champions.

You also find opportunities to participate in various club and intramural sports. And you have access to our health and fitness center, weight room, hot tub, sauna, racquetball courts, indoor track, and the open-skate and open-swim periods at our ice arena and pool.

by the Numbers

90+

11

24

An Innovative Health Sciences University

UNE is one of a handful of private universities with a comprehensive health education mission, including medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, nursing and an array of allied health professions programs.

Our interprofessional approach allows you to master the principles and techniques of your discipline, while coming to better understand the roles played by other members of the health care team.

Through coursework, clinical simulations, experiences in Maine's leading hospitals, and service learning activities, you gain the knowledge and experience to be a leader in your field.

by the Numbers

27

76

Number of patient simulators that provide students the ability apply knowledge acquired in the classroom to realistic clinical situations

5K

Number of Portland-area residents who receive low-cost oral health services at our Dental Hygiene Clinic, a learning lab for students

Global Opportunities

Our Global Education Program enables you to spend a semester on our campus in Tangier, Morocco, or in Seville, Spain, for the same cost as studying in Maine, or to take shorter faculty-led trips to the coral reefs of Belize, the Galapagos Islands, Latin America, Brazil, Kenya, England, Iceland, and other points of cultural and academic interest around the globe.

At UNE's campus in Tangier, Morocco, which opened in the Spring 2014 semester, you stay on track in your major, taking classes and labs taught in English, while finding time to explore Morocco, Spain, and other foreign cultures.

By the time you graduate, you possess a global worldview and the perspective to succeed in a multitude of cultural settings.

by the Numbers

100%

165

Number of students who received additional Global Education Scholarships in 2013-2014

3x

UNE undergraduates study abroad at a rate almost three times the national average

Clinicals, Internships and Research

At UNE, we've spent years building relationships with area health care facilities, businesses, nonprofits and civic organizations.

Whether you're a nursing student completing a clinical rotation at Maine Medical Center's Family Birth Center, a political science student interning in U.S. Senator Susan Collins' office, or an environmental studies major weighing a bobolink chick in a Vermont hayfield, you gain hands-on experience and make professional connections in your field.

You also engage in research and scholarship alongside dedicated faculty who are committed to your academic and professional success. From 2006 to 2014, external funding for research and scholarship at UNE has grown by more than 200%, so the opportunities are many.